Seattle PD advises Cleveland before Republican National Convention
Natalie Brand, NWCN, wsts2 7:44 PM. PDT July 05, 2016
Cleveland Police are taking notes from Seattle PD’s bicycle officers ahead of the Republican National Convention.
KING 5 has learned that Cleveland officers visited Seattle ahead of this year’s May Day to observe the training and tactics of bike officers who formed human barricades as they maneuvered through demonstrations.
“We have our share of protests, and we have since 1999, with the WTO, the battle in Seattle,” said Washington State Republican Party Chairman Susan Hutchison. “So I think that any advice that the seasoned officers have for folks who aren’t used to big crowd like this and potential dangers that could ensue. It’s wise.”
No one knows quite what to expect at this year’s Republican National Convention, but Hutchison says the delegates have been warned.
"When all of our delegates got elected at the state convention, and we had that meeting that night in Pasco, I explained to everybody, they may get hit with pepper spray; they may get hit with tear gas,” she explained. “These are the liabilities of people being delegates at national conventions these days. I want people to have a realistic view that everything is being done to keep them safe, but at the same time…you never know what you can’t control.”
44 national delegates will make the trip to Ohio, to represent Washington. They will be among thousands of other delegates, media members and protestors expected to descend upon the city the week of July 18.
Police in Cleveland have been training for the past several months. Not only do national political conventions have inherent risk of disruptive demonstrations, but presumptive nominee Donald Trump's primary rallies have not been without violence at times, from riots in New Mexico to clashes in California.
Hutchison says special precautions will be taken in Cleveland from what you can take inside the Quicken Loans Arena to armed officers on the delegation’s chartered buses.
“All buses will be inspected, inside and out before they get on board,” she said. “Security will be in every restaurant, security will be in every event space.”
There are reports around 3,000 officers will also be brought in from outside of Cleveland to assist. Seattle is not planning on sending officers, according to a spokesman.
However, USA Today reports Seattle police officials attended a special meeting in Cleveland, convened by the Justice Department, in preparation for the Convention.